Front Porchin'

Richetta, or Ms. Chetta as she is known by most, shares how her trials not only brought her a deeper faith in God, but led her to a place of investing so much of herself into others. Whether it's giving someone in need a bag of toiletries, praying with someone in recovery on the corner, or cooking up her famous baked spaghetti for those that are hungry, Chetta and Ricky live out what it means to love and serve others.

Watch the conversation at youtu.be/s9i9Gaqo3f4?list=PLwPSKsuwgUQEIqCgr0a4vHqfoRmgLnjND

"Easy to Love" by IAmSon

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Tiffany Goodman has lived and served in Church Hill for nearly a decade, and is now investing through the field of counseling. Through her education -- and more importantly, her relationships with youth and families -- she has come to not only see the significant impact of trauma in the lives of many youth, but also the ways she and others can equip those youth to thrive.

Watch the conversation at https://youtu.be/s9i9Gaqo3f4?list=PLwPSKsuwgUQEIqCgr0a4vHqfoRmgLnjND

"Easy to Love" by IAmSon

Get the album: //itunes.apple.com/us/album/iamson/1310764016

Instagram: @iamsonmusic

Twitter: @iamsonmusic

Soundcloud.com/iamsonmusic

When Ebony travelled to several countries around the world, she discovered the impact of travelling as a black female, the triumph of the human spirit, and the value -- and importance -- of becoming "the other".

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"Easy to Love" by IAmSon

Instagram: @iamsonmusic

Twitter: @iamsonmusic

Soundcloud.com/iamsonmusic

East End Fellowship recently explored the value and impact of the arts during a special service called "The Gallery", where individuals could share their artistic gifts.

We demonstrated the art of video by setting up our cameras and asking anyone who wanted to chat, "What is something that you have been thinking about recently?"

"Easy to Love" by IAmSon

Instagram: @iamsonmusic

Twitter: @iamsonmusic

Soundcloud.com/iamsonmusic

Tennicia White is a single mother of three whose deepest desire is to prepare her young boys to thrive in the midst brokenness. After the deaths of two black males during encounters with police in early July, she found herself wrestling with how to find hope, and how to create for her boys a future, especially being black males.

"Easy to Love" by IAmSon

Instagram: @iamsonmusic

Twitter: @iamsonmusic

Soundcloud.com/iamsonmusic

Mary Thompson would tell you point blank that you need to get involved in your community, ideally through a civic association. She has lived in her home in Church Hill for 64 years, but her investment in her community goes beyond just residency. For nearly 25 years, Mrs. Thompson has been leading and inspiring neighbors to invest in their community, and over the last quarter century she has been on the front lines of bringing inspiring, positive transformation for her and her neighbors.

"Easy to Love" by IAmSon

Instagram: @iamsonmusic

Twitter: @iamsonmusic

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Ernest Owens has been a Staff Assistant at the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute since 2007. At the Institute he assists in the technology, media, research and administration fields. Ernest is a 2004 graduate of Campbell University with a B.A. in Business Administration majoring in Computer Information Systems. Ernest is originally from Fayetteville, NC and also lived for several years in Connecticut. In addition to working at the Institute, Ernest has served as a youth leader in his community. In college Ernest created his brand, Fadacy, Inc. where he is a recording artist/producer known as Applejaxx.

www.charleshamiltonhouston.org/

www.fadacy.com

"Easy to love" by IAmSon

Instagram: @iamsonmusic

Twitter: @iamsonmusic

Soundcloud.com/iamsonmusic

Alicia García, now recent graduate of VCU's Urban Regional Planning Master's program, discusses the conditions of gentrification in the East End, how it's both positively and negatively impacting the community, and how to be an intentional, loving neighbor.

"Easy to Love" by IAmSon

Instagram: @iamsonmusic

Twitter: @iamsonmusic

Soundcloud.com/iamsonmusic

Don Coleman was born in Church Hill, and has remained for the majority of his life for the intentional purpose of praying and becoming a representation of what it means to commit to a community, for the community.

There was plenty working against her, but nothing stopped Natasha from pursuing her dream of being a Valedictorian, and encouraging her peers to pursue their dreams as well.